Russia’s energy grid attacks, torture in Ukraine, could be crimes against humanity: UN rights probe
Mar 17, 2023, at 10:11 pm
New York: Russian forces in Ukraine faced fresh accusations of war crimes on Thursday as UN-appointed independent human rights investigators released the latest findings of their ongoing probe.
Cocaine trafficking surges following COVID-19-related slowdown
Mar 17, 2023, at 09:59 pm
New York: Routed through new hubs and expanded criminal networks, cocaine trafficking has made a dramatic comeback following an initial slowdown caused by the emergence of COVID-19, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said on Thursday in a hard-hitting new report.
Diplomacy in Yemen reaches new pitch following year of relative calm, Security Council hears
Mar 17, 2023, at 09:29 pm
New York: With the holy month of Ramadan fast approaching, warring parties in Yemen must build on relative calm across the country and the April 2022 truce – which is largely holding, despite its official lapse in October – to negotiate a nationwide ceasefire and address the dire humanitarian needs there, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Governments must do more to protect human rights defenders: Expert
Mar 17, 2023, at 09:25 pm
New York: Officials in many countries “vilify and target” human rights defenders instead of recognizing the crucial work they do to help build fairer societies, a UN-appointed independent expert said on Wednesday.
UN officials call for durable solution to end the war in Syria
Mar 17, 2023, at 09:16 pm
New York: Three senior UN officials underscored the need for a political solution to end the war in Syria, in statements marking the 12th anniversary of the conflict on Wednesday.
Urgent investment needed to improve conditions for key workers: ILO
Mar 17, 2023, at 09:10 pm
New York: Essential workers who kept families, societies and economies going while the world was on COVID lockdown, need better pay and conditions urgently, if countries are to future-proof themselves from the next global crisis, UN labour experts said on Wednesday.
Iranian border guards kill 11 Afghanistan refugees: Reports
Mar 17, 2023, at 01:24 pm
Tehran: Iranian guards have killed at least eleven Afghan nationals in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran, media reports said.
North Korea fires ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan: Reports
Mar 17, 2023, at 02:14 am
Pyongyang/Tokyo/UNI: North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing the South Korean military.
Kate Middleton had to undergo fertility test before marrying Prince William: Reports
Mar 16, 2023, at 07:40 am
According to a surprising revelation, Kate Middleton had to undergo a fertility test to marry Prince William in 2011, media reports said.
'US ignores flight-restricted status of Black sea coastal areas': Russian Foreign Minister
Mar 16, 2023, at 05:44 am
Moscow/IBNS/UNI: The United States ignores the fact that after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, the Black Sea coastal areas have a flight-restricted status, so the drone incident looks like a provocation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
Severe floods in Turkey leave 5 dead, several others missing: Reports
Mar 16, 2023, at 12:52 am
Ankara/UNI: Massive floods caused by ongoing torrential rains have left five people killed and several others missing in the quake-hit Turkish provinces of Sanliurfa and Adiyaman, media reported on Wednesday.
French pension reform aimed at keeping taxes low, says Government
Mar 15, 2023, at 11:38 pm
Paris: The pension reform in France is being carried out to balance the country's pension financial system without raising taxes, government spokesman Olivier Veran said on Wednesday.
Too many nations failing to investigate torture cases, UN expert says
Mar 15, 2023, at 10:46 pm
New York: States must be “primary responders” in torture cases, to end impunity and bring justice on behalf of victims, a UN independent expert told the Human Rights Council on Tuesday.
Counter-terrorism 'rhetoric' used to justify rise of surveillance technology: human rights expert
Mar 15, 2023, at 09:03 pm
New York: Some countries and private companies are using “counter-terrorism and security rhetoric” to justify a major increase in the deployment and use of cutting-edge surveillance technology, with no regulation, and at an “enormous cost” to human rights, said an independent UN expert on Tuesday.
UN deputy chief warns of faltering progress towards SDGs
Mar 15, 2023, at 08:58 pm
New York: Multiple interconnected global crises are putting achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk - both in the Arab region and the rest of the world, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned on Tuesday.
More than half of all Syrians going hungry: WFP
Mar 15, 2023, at 08:47 pm
New York: More than half of the population in Syria is facing hunger as the country grapples with 12 years of war and recent devastating earthquakes, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Tuesday.
Think local, says new FAO report, pointing towards ‘hunger-free and healthy’ Europe, Central Asia
Mar 15, 2023, at 08:40 pm
New York: Eight UN agencies on Tuesday published a new report aimed at helping countries address chronic food insecurity and nutrition crises across Europe and Central Asia, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.
Mar 15, 2023, at 08:28 pm
New York: During a visit to a center for street children in Beirut, Lebanon, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said: “Children should be allowed to be children. They should enjoy their rights to education, to health, to safe environment and to not feeling the pressures of an adult at a child’s age.”
Paris turns into garbage dump amid strike by binmen
Mar 15, 2023, at 03:27 pm
Paris: Paris, which is known as the city of romance, has turned into a garbage dump as binmen continued their strike for the past several days.
Russian fighter jet dumps fuel on American drone, then collides with it over Black Sea
Mar 15, 2023, at 06:46 am
Brussels/IBNS: A Russian fighter jet on Tuesday dumped fuel on an American drone over the Black Sea then collided with it, causing the drone to crash, the US military said.
UN stresses ‘full commitment’ to Ukraine grain deal as Russia offers 60-day extension
Mar 14, 2023, at 09:59 pm
New York: The UN chief on Monday confirmed the UN would “do everything possible to preserve the integrity” of the Black Sea Grain Initiative – the deal agreed between Ukraine and Russia last July that is due to expire in just a few days.
Japan govt approves bill to raise age of consent, amend range of sexual offense charges
Mar 14, 2023, at 09:43 pm
Tokyo: Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to amend the country's Penal Code regarding the age of sexual consent and a range of sexual offense charges.
Digital technology new source of discrimination against women: Guterres
Mar 14, 2023, at 09:12 pm
New York: During a dialogue with women civil society leaders in the UN General Assembly Hall on Monday, Secretary-General António Guterres heard about the critical need to make the internet safer for women and girls – and to ensure that they are equal participants in global conservations, both online and in-person.
UN experts call on South Africa to create torture prevention body
Mar 14, 2023, at 09:00 pm
New York: South Africa must swiftly set up a watchdog mechanism to examine prisons, detention centres, and other facilities, UN independent experts on torture prevention said on Monday, citing “entrenched” ill treatment.
Step up support to Syria-Türkiye earthquake survivors: UN refugee chief
Mar 14, 2023, at 07:22 pm
New York: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on Monday underlined the need for greater and urgent international support for survivors of the recent deadly earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye following a five-day visit to the two countries.
UN expert calls for ‘new philosophy’ to better serve persons with disabilities
Mar 14, 2023, at 07:19 pm
New York: A “new philosophy” and broader approaches can transform services for persons with disabilities, a UN-appointed independent expert told the Human Rights Council on Monday.
Tibetans mark 64th anniversary of National Uprising in Rome
Mar 14, 2023, at 04:17 am
Rome: A large section of Tibetans marked the 64th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising in Rome recently.
Twenty-two killed after migrant boat capsizes off Madagascar
Mar 13, 2023, at 03:19 pm
Antananarivo: At least 22 people have been killed after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Madagascar in Southern Africa, Madagascar's port authority said on Sunday evening.
Tibetans protest in Vienna to mark National Uprising Day
Mar 13, 2023, at 02:23 am
Vienna: Tibetans marked the National Uprising Day in Vienna city of Austria on Friday by protesting in front of Chinese Embassy against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), media reports said on Saturday.
School girls poisoned in Iran: Over 100 suspects arrested
Mar 13, 2023, at 12:15 am
Iranian authorities have arrested more than 100 people in connection with the recent suspected poisoning of girl students across the country, local media reports said.